BUCHAREST SUMMIT: WHAT DOES BORDERING ON NATO MEAN FOR AZERBAIJAN?- ANALYSIS
Azeri Press Agency
April 8 2008
Azerbaijan
Bucharest. Fakhri Karimli-APA. NATO Bucharest Summit sticks in memory
with its historic decisions.
The Final Declaration, consisted of 50 articles and signed by
the leaders of 26 member countries, covers various fields from
anti-terrorism efforts to new membership. This event differed from
the previous one for its scale. The Bucharest Summit was a biggest
summit in the history of North Atlantic bloc. There is no point to
speak about the Romanian summit experience, because the NATO Summit
was larger than 2006 Francophone Summit in Bucharest. Romanian
Government spent totally 30 million dollars to the organization of
NATO Summit. The other characterizing feature of the Bucharest Summit
was that no one returned home light-handed. Albanian and Croatian
happiness can be understood, because these two western Balkan
countries have been welcomed in the world most powerful military
alliance. Host country Romania is satisfied with its ability as an
organizer of the large-scale international event gained the regional
and international respect to the country. However, other parts felt
short happiness because no one reached its goal fully: Georgia and
Ukraine’s hopes for the NATO Membership Action Plan didn’t come true,
but instead of this, they were included in the Final Declaration as
a possible candidate to NATO membership. Russia, the backstage author
of these moves could temporarily prevent NATO crossing of former USSR
borders. France and Germany were satisfied with that they could keep
promises to Russia and reach a compromise with their allies like US and
Britain. Postponing the issue of Georgian-Ukrainian tandem until the
NATO foreign ministers meeting in December, London and Washington could
make Germany and France to abstain from their resolute stance against
the Georgia and Ukraine’s integration into NATO. Only Macedonia stands
aside from this tableau of mass happiness. Despite being more developed
that Albania, this small Balkan country couldn’t enter NATO owing to
Greek obstacle. Greece, which occupied the southern part of historic
Macedonia during the 1912-13 Balkan war, is protesting against the
name of Macedonia, because considers it as a territorial claim against
itself by the Northern Macedonia or former Yugoslavian Macedonia.
There is no doubt that Bucharest Summit also assumes distinct
significance for Azerbaijan. 43rd article of the Final Declaration,
supporting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of
4 post-soviet countries and proposing to solve the "frozen conflicts"
in the territories of these countries within the above-mentioned
principles, coincides with the main targets of Azerbaijani diplomacy.
Three of these countries – Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova are GUAM
members cooperating with the West and facing with the Abkhazian,
south Ossetian, Nagorno Karabakh and Transdniestrian conflicts in
their territories. As a matter of fact, Armenia was formally included
in this article, because Azerbaijan suffers from the violation of its
territorial integrity and Armenia does not face with the territorial
claims. What does this document mean for Azerbaijan? It is necessary
to return back to the UN General Assembly’s last session to answer
this question. Baku getting the important legal argument after the
adoption of resolution on the "Situation in the occupied Azerbaijani
territories" achieved the support of the world biggest military
alliance in this sensitive issue.
Moreover, 2 OSCE member countries are also included into NATO. After
Kosovo experience, there were serious suspicions on the solution to
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict by means of withdrawal international
peacekeepers because of confrontation between NATO and Serbia.
Azerbaijan has strengthened its position by the support of UN and
NATO and further process will depend on using these cards. South
Caucasus is in the focus of attention of the world community at
present. Georgia’s candidacy for NATO membership shakes balance of
forces in the region. Maneuver opportunities of official Baku with
Russia and West have been increased or decreased. Because Georgia
and Armenia ‘s foreign policy is unambiguous and Azerbaijan has rich
energy resources and it is a key of Central Asia and Caspian Sea
and therefore its value has been increased in the region. The choice
of barricade will be absolute. Azerbaijan has ensured its position
pursuing geopolitical marketing during West-Russia confrontation.
Bucharest Summit was a Summit opened a door to a new period. Georgian
President also stated that we had imagined such situation before.
Azerbaijan has expected this situation for 17 years. Azerbaijan
has worked for a long time to direct attention of the world to
Caspian and Black Seas regions by the help of its foreign policy
and oil diplomacy. We can say that it’s high time for "X Clock"
in the Caucasus.